Word Origin & History

plunder 1632, from M.H.G. plunderen "to plunder," originally "to take away household furniture," from plunder "household goods, clothes" (cf. M.H.G. plunder "lumber, baggage," 14c.; M.Du. plunder "household goods;" Fris., Du. plunje "clothes"). A word acquired by English via the Thirty Years War and applied in native use after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642. The noun meaning "goods taken by force" is from 1647.

Example Sentences for plunder

My great aunt wore Chanel #5 and let me plunder her closet, too.

It's a pointless tactic that is effectively just handing the other team points and an opportunity to pillage and plunder.

Thieves plunder them for scrap metal.

There seems to be no end to the depths today's licensers are willing to plunder in order to make some extra bucks.

You either trade your loot and plunder with other players or 'buy' and 'sell' troops and resources with accumulated gold.

But any warlord worth his salt also knows how to plunder official booty.

Another had dropped his plunder while trying to get over a wall.

For some, Blunt's acts of brutality and plunder will seem justified given what he witnesses and endures.

Worse, public-works budgets have made easy plunder for corrupt officials.